Fan Fiction |
by Jenny Tran
One year later, Sa Tin
Jayd had moved out with her mother within days after she walked out on Andrew at the alter. He came looking for her but each time, her mother would scold him into oblivion. Although Jayd had lost feelings for him, she could not forget the hurt that she felt at that moment he told her the truth. She did not leave a contact name or bothered coming into work since she figured Andrew would understand why. She didn’t have to spell it out for him nor was she willing to.
One night after dinner, she headed up to the roof to dry her clothes. Checking her coat pocket, she felt something inside. Pulling out the object, she smiled at the fake cigarettes. Leaning over the banister of the ledge, she took one out and puffed through the wrapped stick gum. The flour pushed through the edges making a smoke like surrounding “I thought you didn’t smoke?”
Jayd turned to the female voice with a smile “I don’t. It’s gum.” She showed Lisa.
“You still think about him don’t you?” she joined her on the rail.
“Once in a while.” She sighed “I don’t know why but I’m not the least bit mad at him. But Andrew…I can’t get over the anger.”
“Did you see the add in the newspaper this last week?” Lisa smiled.
She nodded “Yeah, he just won’t give up huh? I mean every week out of the whole year. That’s a lot of money, he could have spent that hiring someone to convince me what a great guy he really is.” Lisa laughed at her sarcasm “What a joke your Biu Gor has become.”
“I think he was too in love with you.” She felt the need to stand up for him.
Jayd arched a brow at her friend “If you didn’t help me get this apartment and find me a new job, I would throw you over the edge right now.”
She laughed while turning her elbows behind so she leaned her back on the rail “He’s still my cousin. I can’t just let his name be tarnished. You know what I had to tell people after that day?”
“What?” Jayd grinned as she could imagine.
“That there was a third person involved. But in the end no one ended up together and for the best, everyone broke up.” She shook her head how sad.
Jayd frowned strangely “That is what happened.”
“Well, yeah…I guess. Complicated mess isn’t it?” she agreed “You really don’t want to see Biu Gor?”
“No. Not the least bit.” She said firmly. Suddenly, she turned to Lisa “You didn’t tell him where I live do you? I didn’t hide out for one year just to move again!”
Lisa shook her head “No. I didn’t tell him anything. I still want to be your friend.” She looked sympathetic “Wow, I had no idea you were that mad.”
“Want to switch places?” Jayd offered.
“No! I’ve got enough drama as it is.” She laughed.
“Like?” she asked.
Lisa shrugged “Guys going after me all the time.” She sighed and looked up at the stars “It’s so sad being this beautiful.”
Jayd laughed as she nudged her “So you’re using me as a hideout?”
“No, I’m not that bad. I came to bring you this.” She brought out a booth picture with Rodney and Jayd at the fun park “On the day that he left, I came to see him. I tried to convince him to come and stop the wedding but he was certain you would be too mad at him. I found this in his bedroom so I took it.”
“Why?” Jayd asked “You’re not in the picture.” She pointed out.
“I don’t know why…” Lisa looked away “But I kept it in my journal and forgot all about it. The other day, I was digging through some old stuff and ran into my journal. The picture was sticking out and so I decided to bring it back to you. Maybe trigger some memories.”
Jayd stroked the happy smiles in the picture “What use would it make? I don’t even know where he is right now.”
“Crying in a corner somewhere.” Lisa laughed.
“I can only hope.” She joined in with her contagious laugh.
****************
Jayd stood outside the home with a container of homemade soup. She hit the doorbell and seconds later it opened “Miss Lee.” The butler bowed politely.
“Hi Sum Bak.” She greeted.
“Jayden.” Mrs. Yeung grinned widely as she waved the girl “Come in.” quickly linking her elbow, she led the girl towards the large dining table “How are you sweetie?”
“Good. Oh, my mom made some vegetable soup for you. She heard from Steve that you’ve been coughing lately. It’s best if you have something light to drink.” Jayd presented the soup.
The woman smiled warmly “Thank you dear. Please pass on my word to your mother. I’m sure it’s delicious.” She pointed her to the sofa “Steve is still changing. I’ll go put this in a bowl and Mr. Yeung is in the library, he should be coming out.”
Jayd seated herself comfortably on the couch “I knew I heard a pretty voice!” Mr. Yeung laughed merrily as he turned to the young girl. Jayd got up politely “How are you doing?”
“I’m good.” Jayd smiled.
“Dinner should be ready. Let’s take a seat and wait for the other two.” He adjusted his glasses to have a better look at her “How is work?”
“It’s busy. We’re working on the new mall downtown.” Jayd explained shortly.
“I just think it’s great what you do.” He said with much envy “I wish my son could be half as talented as you.”
Jayd raised her brows “He’s very talented.”
“Mixing a bunch of alcohol together is not talent.” He mocked.
“I heard that!” Steve appeared at the stairwell “Father, why do you always bore Jayd with your complaints about me?”
Mr. Yeung laughed “But they are true. And look at you, just to put on a shirt and jeans, you take a whole hour?”
“He just wants to look good for Jayd.” Mrs. Yeung appeared with a tray of four bowls of the soup Jayd brought over.
“Yes, mom knows me best.” Steve agreed.
Jayd smiled at the warm family. She envied Steve for having such a wonderful life. He was well loved and his parents couldn’t be happier when he brought Jayd home. They wanted nothing more than for him to settle down with a girl. Not to mention their surprise when they learned that she was the same girl that they lived next door to.
After dinner, they excused themselves to go to a movie. But she wanted to make a short stop “I want some ice cream.” She claimed when they were out of sight from the large mansion.
“Sure. Anything for my Jayd.” Steve grinned as he noted the driver glancing at them with a short grin. They stopped at the little parlor and Steve turned to the man behind the wheel “We want to be alone.”
“Of course, Sir. Call me when you need me to come pick you up.”
They held hands and walked together down the street, one cone in her hand as she ate the ice cream. She peeked behind her shoulder “I think he’s gone.”
Steve quickly let go of her hand “Good, I thought we’d never get away.” He sighed while unbuttoning a few buttons on his collar shirt.
“Hey.” Jayd nudged him as they walked towards the theatre “When are you going to tell your parents that you’re gay?”
Steve put away his chapstick as he laughed “Never if I could.”
“Oh come on, you’re going to make me lie forever? What if I find a straight guy?” she laughed with a shaking head “If you ask me, I think they’ll accept you for who you are.”
He flashed her a smile and crossed his arm “Maybe in the make believe world but in the white collar world, homosexuality is very frowned upon.”
“Save it.” Jayd waved the cone at him “Your love is here.” She nodded behind him as a guy in a suit appeared.
“Sorry, I’m late.” He apologized with a wide grin.
Steve turned away with a pout “We’ve been waiting here for half an hour.”
Jayd watched as Bill tried to coax Steve “I’m sorry. I’ll cook you dinner tomorrow and we’ll make dessert and eat it in bed…” he said seductively.
She laughed while taking a bite of the cone “It’s okay. We just got here a minute before you.”
“Oh!!” Bill wagged a finger at Steve menacingly.
Steve turned to her whining “You had to tell!”
“Hey, don’t raise your voice at me.” Jayd warned “Maybe I’ll go back right now and tell Uncle and Auntie…” she threatened slyly.
“Oh no, no…you’re the best.” Steve added with a prance “Come on, we’re going to be late for the movie.” He rushed Bill away.
“Thanks Jayd! We owe you!” Bill cried as he chuckled and allowed Steve to push him away.
Jayd waved with an imprinted smile. Shaking her head, she headed back to her part of town. Passing by a sushi place, a flash of memory chased back to her. She recalled eating there with Rodney, they were laughing and racing to see how many sushis they could fit inside their mouths. Naturally Rodney won, but only because he had a big mouth. Her smile soon faded as she was bumped back to reality. Sighing, she walked back home for an early nap.
The following morning, she had plans to have breakfast with her mother “Are you ready?” she adjusted her shirt while standing in front of her mother’s room.
“Oh honey, I’m sorry. I forgot all about our breakfast date.” She apologized “I made plans to go out with Chan Thai and Ng Thai.”
Jayd smiled “It’s okay. We could always have lunch or dinner?”
“Yes, of course. Anything you want to eat.” Mrs. Lee nodded firmly.
She left her apartment with a refreshed feeling. It was another Sunday for her. Heading off to the newsstand, she picked up the front page. Giving the man a dollar, she walked to the side to read the headlines. She was involved in a story and didn’t take notice of the guy that bumped into her “Sorry.”
“It’s okay.” She mumbled while continuing her story. She flipped the page and noticed the big bold letters ‘I love you Jayd. Please forgive me. Love Andrew’. She shook her head sadly “What a joke.”
“Yes, its quite lame if you ask me.” The guy that bumped into her nodded in agreement. Her face froze as she turned up to the familiar voice. He had seen her from a block away and knew it was his only chance to make a move. Bumping into her purposely to get her attention but to his dismay, she didn’t look up. He wasn’t sure if he was going to earn a slap in the face or he would be ignored. The awkward silence grew as she continued to stare “Sorry, I have the tendency to talk to myself.” He smiled weakly and folded his paper to move on his way.
“What’s your name?!” she blurted out before he was too far to hear.
He turned to her with a slow smile “Rodney Kwok.”
“Jayden Lee.” She showed him a bright grin while putting out a hand.
He shook it warmly “You go by Jayd?”
Shaking her head, she answered, “No, I don’t like Jayd. I prefer Jayden.”
“I do too.” He laughed “How about breakfast? On me?”
“Only if I can pay for lunch.” She made a deal.
Nodding, he showed her the way “Sounds good to me.” They talked on like strangers but an air of familiarity was present. They were comfortable and found everything to be amusing even when it wasn’t. He knew the second chance was a Godsend and there was no way he would let it slip away.
The End